KATHMANDU, March 17: The council of ministers has decided to promote Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Police Deepak Thapa as the 31st Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The Cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar on Monday evening decided to promote AIG Thapa to the post of IGP following the retirement of incumbent IGP Basanta Bahadur Kunwar on Monday.
Speaking to a group of journalists after the cabinet meeting, spokesperson for the Council of Ministers and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung confirmed that AIG Thapa has been promoted to the post of IGP on the basis of seniority.
“The cabinet has decided to promote AIG Deepak Thapa as the next police chief,” he said.
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Along with AIG Thapa, AIGs Sudip Giri and Tek Bahadur Tamang were competing for the coveted post of IGP. Thapa is only 18 days senior to Giri and Tamang in terms of date of promotion to AIG. The three competitors reportedly lobbied with powerful business and political groups while vying for the top post of the police organization.
Born on November 24, 1971 in Sipadol, Bhaktapur, Thapa holds a bachelor's degree in law and master's degrees in political science and public administration. Thapa, considered to be a dark horse for the promotion, is a veteran of on-field command and a favorite for multiple political parties having worked closely with a plethora of political leaders in the past.
After joining the police service on September 4, 1995, as an inspector, he initially led the area police offices in Banepa, Butwal, and Garuda. He was stationed at the Area Police Office, Maikot, during the civil war. He also worked as the school chief of Nepal Police School in Sanga, and at the District Police Offices (DPO) of Doti and Rautahat.
As a deputy superintendent, he was the chief of the DPO, Khotang, for two years and went on to lead the erstwhile Metropolitan Police Circle, Maharajgunj and worked as the Prime Minister's personal security officer. As a superintendent, he led the DPO, Chitwan, similar to IGP Kunwar. In addition to the DPO, Chitwan, Thapa also led the DPOs in Rukum, Khotang, Sunsari, Morang, and Makwanpur.
As a senior superintendent, Thapa worked in the Personnel Administration Branch and the Economic Administration Branch of the Police Headquarters, going on to lead the Metropolitan Police Crime Department.
After his promotion to Deputy Inspector General (DIG), he led the Management Directorate and the Bagmati Province Police Office. As an AIG, he led the Administration Department, the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, Ranipokhari, and went to be appointed at the current posting at the helm of the CIB.
As an international peacekeeper, Thapa has been stationed in Sudan and Liberia and has participated in 25 training programs abroad and at home. The government has awarded Thapa eight different medals and decorations, including Prabal Janasewa Shree, Suprabal Janasewa Shree, while he has also received three honors from the United Nations. He is also known as an expert in police work, human resource management, crime investigation and management, and disaster management.
Thapa was promoted as IGP Basanta Kunwar retired on Monday due to the 30 years service-limit in the police organization. Along with Kunwar, five AIGs and four DIGs have also retired.
The government has appointed police chiefs on the basis of seniority in the last two terms. Newly-appointed police chief Thapa will not be able to work as IG for a long time unless the government amends the law. He will lead the police force of about 80,000 for only 5-and-a-half months and retire on September 3 due to the 30 years service-limit.
